What I think he is looking for in #1 is a problem that he has some useful knowledge about. Another way to say what I mean is that it should be become something that he can add unique value to, based on experience, expertise, or skills.

I think it’s stronger if you reverse the order to be:

Solve a real customer problem,

That they are willing to pay for,

Where you add unique value (know-how, experience, or expertise) to the solution.

Comments (4)

The final letter from the folks at Eventvue contains a lot of insight on #1 (a rather expensive and valuable lesson about start up entrepreneurship). It also points to the need to create a “gotta have” product or service versus “nice to have.”